When you think of winter, you think of snow. When you think of snow, you think of snowmen. Not an army of living dead. They emerged from under the snow without warning and began to look for fresh living bodies for lunch.
At least that was what Kaina thought. Her imagination is her downfall. No one is going to be eaten today. They are only interested in the colour of her soul.
Their cold bodies are unblemished and in pristine condition. Making them indistinguishable from royal shinobi of Kirigakure from distance. And just like their still-living counterparts, they were warriors of great skill and composure.
Not dying nor aging, they are bestowed eternal half-life for the purpose of serving their controller for all eternity as a result of being unwillingly exposed to the pinnacle of Uzushio's sorcery. The one that was only deployed once in the village history right before its destruction.
They are still capable of using ninjutsu and communicate with each other. Which made them even more dangerous. The only way to stop them is to sever the link they shared with their controller.
To be dead but never to rest. That is the destiny of the Kimyo Kugutsu.
"Suiton, huh? I expected as much from former Kiri ninja."
They started throwing water-based ninjutsu at Kaina until the tall one used an area-wide Raiton Jutsu that accidentally electrocuted his teammates. Teamwork must not be their strong suit.
"Hyojuro! You bastard!"
"Imbecile. Stop holding me back."
Forget teamwork. The enemy already outnumbers her seven to one and all of them are around Jounin level. If they started to work as a team, they will be invincible.
"The first rule of hunting! Don't let the prey escape!"
The objective hasn't changed. Escape from this place alive. But how?
Everything looks the same and now everyone is trying to kill her before she can find the exit. At first, she used to think if she will die of boredom or went insane after an eternity of nothing but snow.
"W-what if...What if there is no escape? I can't keep running away forever..."
Think, Kaina. If there is no escape, what would she do? If there are no options left...
"It's up to me to make an impact!"
Surrounded and unarmed, she decided to make any strikes matter. The Hyuugas only need one strike to end a fight. Kaina might not be related to any of them, but it's the spirits that count.
The blonde one melted into a puddle. She should saw it coming.
Kaina doesn't know what happens next, but whatever happened must have caused her to be pinned to the ground with a kunai against her throat.
"It's over. You should give up."
Aside from his shark-like teeth and ability to turn into waters at will, the blonde man doesn't look threatening.
"What will you do if I don't give up? Because that is what I will do."
Giving up is for losers. There is nothing noble about giving up. So what is there to lose? It's not like she is capable of dying anyway as long as Fluffy-chan is still around.
"Well done."
Kaina suddenly feels very sleepy and lose consciousness. Only to wake up at the same clearing where the banquet is being held. Nothing changed from her previous visit. Other than the satisfied expression her hostess is wearing.
She still wanted to punch that fair, sharply-featured faces, though. Those mocking slanted eyes would look infinitely better with bruises.
"Oh, dear. I think I forgot to tell you there is no exit. Haha, sorry. But I'll admit... you've piqued my interest."
"Can I go home now?"
"The wisdom of the Dark Realm is to be ruthless and never give up. You sure got the last part right. Before you leave, I have something for your troubles."
"What is it? Ramen?"
The woman pulled out a fairly unremarkable-looking scroll from her sleeves and smacked Kaina on the head with it.
"Oops, my hand slipped."
If it's not ramen, what is inside that scroll anyway? The second best thing after ramen, perhaps?
"Don't open it before you become a Chunin. I'm serious. You will die. Kyuubi or no Kyuubi."
Anything that can bypass Kaina and Fluffy-chan's combined regenerations doesn't sound like something good.
"Come now. The road leading back to your home is this way."